DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The L.A. Times building's 1935 Globe Lobby is an art deco gem, but getting inside has been a hot-and-cold task in recent years. The newspaper closed down public access for security reasons in 2001, reopened it in 2004, closed access briefly in 2005, and then again closed the doors in 2009.

Now, though, the Times is using the space as the star of a monthly series titled "Thursdays @ The Globe," and inviting those who work nearby in for lunchtime discussion.

Those who can't make lunch can apparently still visit the globe, however. In a blog posting on the series, the Times notes that the lobby is now open to the public from 7am to 6pm, Monday through Friday.